Naidu holds meeting on realty project approval procedures

NEW DELHI: To fast track the approval process for real estate projects, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday urged all ministries concerned to make concerted efforts to facilitate ease of doing business in India.

Naidu was presiding over a consultative meeting held by HUPA Ministry on fast tracking of approval procedures for real estate projects and in particular affordable housing projects with officials of Ministries of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Culture, Civil Aviation, Defence, Consumer Affairs and Urban Development.

At the meeting, the ministries updated about the actions taken by them in the last three months, according to a senior HUPA Ministry official.

The official said that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change informed that environmental guidelines have been formulated, and are under approval.

"Once approved, they will need to be incorporated in the municipal byelaws across the states," he said.

It was also informed that local/regional offices of statutory bodies such as central/state pollution control boards might be in a position to accord approvals at local level, the official added.

The Ministry of Culture said the process of mapping the national monuments in 33 cities with million-plus population is underway and will be completed within three months.

The National Monument Authority is also preparing a classification/typology document for monuments with varying importance, the official said.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already prepared colour-coded zoning maps (CCZM), earmarking no-flying zones, air funnel and flight paths and height restrictions for cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

It was advised to complete the preparation of CCZMs for all the active 60-70 airports in the country on priority, the official said.